Australia has a cybersecurity problem; and what can Oppenheimer teach us about the dangers of unregulated technologies?

Should you pay a ransom to a hacker? And why is AI a threat for cybersecurity? In this edition of Tech Wrap-Up Australia, we speak to the founder of an Australian cybersecurity startup about the biggest issues challenging the sector.

Also in this edition, as AI surges in popularity, investors are swooping in to back data processing and cloud companies that will power the new technological revolution. Hear from a venture capitalist who is investing in the next generation of Australian AI startups.

And what can the blockbuster film Oppenheimer teach us about the dangerous and unregulated technologies? Read on to learn more.

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Meet the people behind Australia's most innovative tech companies

As cybercrime surges around the world, an Australian startup is trying to help arm companies by training up developers to create more secure code — and finding global success in the process.

Secure Code Warrior ?is a SaaS education platform for developers to learn and strengthen their software security skills. It has 600 clients around the world, including global tech giants like Atlassian, Salesforce and Cisco.

Pieter Danhieux , SCW CEO and Co-Founder, said there is a huge demand for coders who have strong software security skills, and who can also build secure software from the outset that hackers can't exploit.

Secure Code Warrior recently closed a whopping?$72 million dollar Series C funding round, led by US-based Paladin Capital Group , which invests in innovative cybersecurity startups around the world.

?: Pieter, why do developers need extra cyber training and education? Are developers not already trained to build secure software?

??: To date, there are few options for developers to gain experience in software security, with secure coding rarely part of their tertiary education, and most on-the-job training too infrequent or irrelevant to have any real impact on vulnerability reduction. We seek to change that.

With billions of lines of code produced every year and growing, we simply cannot afford for developers to be absent as the first line of defence against threat actors.

?: How do we train more people up?

??: The cybersecurity skills gap is widely publicised, and it has a global impact. Typically, there is one security professional for every 100 developers, and this ratio is simply not enough to keep every security issue under control.

We need more grassroots support for STEM and cybersecurity, and there is no reason why awareness of the wide range of available cybersecurity roles couldn’t start at the earliest stages of the education system. We also need government funding for critical programs that support new waves of cyber talent.

?: Beyond having more workers, how does Australia build up its own cyber workforce and resilience?

??: As it stands, according to the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI), Australia ranks at number 40 in terms of our government-implemented cybersecurity capacities. This lags behind some developing nations, as well as the pace of our own adoption of the latest technology at both the business and individual levels.

If we want to be competitive, we must seriously invest in developing our homegrown solutions and talent.

To that end, it has been incredibly disappointing to observe a downturn in government support for our own cybersecurity startups and accelerator programs.

?: There are calls for the Australian Government to ban companies paying ransoms to hackers. What’s your view on this?

??: Paying the ransom sets a precedent that cybercrime is a viable source of income, and companies that give in to these demands find themselves a constant target.

Let’s be realistic. A criminal cyber gang has all the time and tools in the world to find every exploitable vulnerability to bring a company to its knees, and they are always at an advantage.

?? To learn more about cybersecurity and the problems AI could pose for the industry, read the full interview in the link below. You can also follow? Pieter Danhieux ?on LinkedIn for more insights.

?? Cybersecurity is rapidly changing sector. To stay on top of all the changes, here are some other experts to follow:

• Valeska Bloch , Partner and Head of Cyber at Allens
• Rachael Greaves , CEO and Co-Founder of Castlepoint Systems
• Shamane Tan , Chief Growth Officer Sekuro
• Logan Daley , Group Cyber GRC Specialist for NIOA
• Joel Earnshaw , Security and Risk Manager at Perenti
• Ian Yip , Founder and CEO of? Avertro

AI's potential $115b economic boost

A new report by the Tech Council of Australia has found generative AI could contribute an extra $115 billion a year to the national economy, by supporting existing businesses and helping to create new ones.

Tech skills are dividing a nation

Are new tech skills the key to succeeding in an AI-dominated future? Or a waste of time? Here's fresh LinkedIn data from Australian professionals showing differing opinions.

Will AI help or hinder freelancers?

While AI can equip a freelancer with the equivalent of a creative team to help deliver projects, it can also replace roles. Here's how experts see it playing out.?

Oppenheimer film has lessons for AI

Director Christopher Nolan has likened his historical biopic about J Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the the atom bomb to the rise of AI and the risk the emerging technology poses to humanity.

These are the tech issues that got LinkedIn members talking — add your own views in the comments section to join the conversation

Meet the venture capitalists funding Australia's emerging tech companies

As AI surges in popularity, investors are swooping in to the back data processing and cloud companies that will power the new technological revolution.

Georgie Turner , a partner at Australia and US-based venture capital firm? Tidal Ventures , is one of those investors.

Tidal backs early-stage startups that have the potential to revolutionise industries, even if their prototype or concept is still in its infancy.

In this interview with Tech Wrap-Up Australia, Turner explains the potential of AI and cloud computing, how to win her over in a pitch, and the emerging technologies she's watching closely as an investor.

?: Georgie, investment in this sector is going gangbusters at the moment. Is it hard to keep up?

??: Luckily we’ve been playing in this space for a while with our investments in the likes of?PredictHQ?from our first fund, and?Search.io?from our second. But with the recent buzz I have to keep checking in on all the recent apps being built to make sure we’re sizing up the AI opportunity appropriately. If someone could please build a GeorgieGPT to do my research, I’d personally fund that.

?: What do you look for in a founder when deciding whether to invest?

??: In a nutshell, I’m looking for an inspirational leader who is in love with their problem space, a swift decision-maker, and someone who shows signs of rational optimism. Here are some of the key qualities I look for:

• Problem knowledge.?They are genuinely passionate about the problem and have found an innovative way to address customer needs and capture the market. They offer unique and innovative insights based on their lived experience, which others often overlook. These insights stem from a deep understanding of the market, existing deficiencies, and potential opportunities.
• Customer obsession.?They prioritise customer focus and adaptability in their solutions. They actively seek better ways to solve problems by empathising with customers and are open to transforming their initial ideas. They foster a product-led culture through customer interaction, research, engaging demos, and a roadmap driven by customer outcomes.
• Strong vision.?They have a clear vision, focus on product-market fit, and attract early team members and investors. They possess a united founding team with complementary skills, an aligned vision, and a track record of success, inspiring others to join their journey.
• Great mindset.?They possess energy, an action-oriented attitude, adaptability, and resourcefulness, making them determined, insightful, and gritty in scaling and persevering in startup ventures. They exhibit hi-low thinking, balancing short-term operations with long-term goals, with a clear vision and the ability to make fast decisions and adapt quickly based on daily metrics. They’re hardworking, humble, and have integrity, are open to feedback, thoughtful in their responses, and are attentive listeners.
• Product focus.?They build a great product with a scalable market and a strong team, leveraging technical capability, product strategy, and growth expertise for a competitive advantage. Their disruptive and mission-critical product offers a clear value proposition, attracting new customers effortlessly in a market ripe for disruption.

?? To learn more about tech investing, read the full interview in the link below. You can also follow Georgie Turner on LinkedIn for more VC insights.

Tech professionals on LinkedIn regularly share their knowledge and insights with followers. Here's some of their great content to catch up on.

?? Hollywood actors have gone on strike due, in part, to reported plans by studios to scan actors' features for use in future projects. The union representing the actors see it as a plan that threatens livelihoods when digital twins can replace them. AI artist and video creator Jamie van Leeuwen shows how easy it is to make a digitial character — check out his video below.

?? Hiring your first data professional can be tough, especially when there's no technical experience to draw on. Kendra Vant , Executive GM Data & AI Products at Xero , explains how to do it.

?? ChatGPT can write the 'About' section on your website. ChatGPT educator Leanne Shelton ? shares some tips and tricks on using the chatbot to help tell your story.

?? Impact venture funds chase not only financial returns, but environmental and social benefit. The average fund has returned just 10% over the 21 years to 2020, writes startups and investment expert Steve Glaveski . He explores why they typically underperform and what impact VCs should consider doing more of to turn the tide.

?? There is an AI revolution happening in healthcare. But, like any breakthrough, it comes with its own set of challenges, writes AI expert Aruna Pattam . Bias in algorithms can potentially lead to inaccurate diagnoses.

?? As Generative AI exlodes in popularity, it is important not to overlook the cornerstone element of it — Machine Learning (ML). Our computers have journeyed from basic problemsolvers to smart advisors and personal helpers using ML.?In another post, Aruna Pattam explains what ML is for those wanting to learn more about the technology that underpins AI.

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